But for the question, probably because the paladin class as a general concept in fantasy games is rarely protrayed using 2 weapons and it just doesn't seem quite right. I know one of the templar classes in Hellgate: London did dual-wield, which was one of the reasons I didn't enjoy playing them. I guess there are some traditions in the genre that just shouldn't be broken.

Gameplay wise it also opens up a slew of issues in rebalancing all their attacks to operate around both options, and it would probably require the seal system to be overhauled again to reflect the change.

First off... if you can please change the name of the topic to "Why don't Paladin's have Dual Wielding?" Believe me, it will incourage alot better discussion.

On topic a bit more, throw hunter out of there because they are not a melee class.
So your question is equivilent to asking why can't Shaman's and Rogues use two-handed weapons (I know Shaman's can, but they shouldn't). It's how the class is designed and it just doesn't fit the lore very well. Besides having to redesign all of the ret abilities to compensate for both 2-handed strikes and dual strikes, it also makes the one handed drops have that much more competition for it.

Because not every class can play with each style. Rogues and shamans cant either use two-handed weapons at all or at least not effectively. Shamans used to be 2H users in Vanilla but not after even though there has been a minority of wanting it to be so. In my opinion dual wielding fits for sort of "berserkers" which paladins lorewise are not.

Let me put it this way: have you seen how much QQ the forums has seen regarding the frost tree for DKs and the enhancement tree for shamans?
If not, then I suggest you go check em out. If yes then you know why paladins don't dual wield.

a paladin can already heal,tank and more recently deal competitive damage. why not make them shapeshift into an angel and give us all some deserved perving time while they solo the boss for us. seriousely. your class can do anything and everything (druids too). stop whining and roll tank so the rest of the classes that can have better q times -_-

I disagree with paladins being able to use 2 handers as well. The iconic thing about paladins is their shield. Ret paladins should be balanced around using a 1h so the damage is the same, but more fitting to a paladin.

Technically you could blame D&D a lot for the paladin stigma that's survived the last 30 years in gaming. In the Greyhawk suppliment for D&D 1st ed, Paladins had a lot of descriptors about them. Holy avengers, Lawful Good, taboo's with poisons, lie-ing (sp? lol), non-pure forms of combat / chaotic combat, or even stealth. 2 handed wielding in D&D back in the day was considered a non-honorable form of combat, more of a berserker or barbarian vs a veteran of the righteous. So the lore behind dual wielding for pallys comes from years of gaming behind it.